(Vena’s POV) The first thing I heard…
…was silence.
Not the terrifying silence that came after the Gate disappeared.
Not the suffocating silence before death.
Just…
The peaceful silence of an ordinary morning.
A cool breeze slipped through the half-open window, making the curtains sway gently.
Warm sunlight stretched across my bedroom floor.
For a few moments…
I simply stared at the ceiling.
“…I’m alive.” The words escaped my lips almost unconsciously.
Last night…
The abandoned chapel.
The Second Gate.
The little girl.
The Guardian.
The chained creature.
The mysterious man carrying the black umbrella.
It all rushed back at once.
I sat up so quickly that a sharp pain shot through my head.
“…Ah…” Instinctively, my hand reached for my neck.
The silver pendant rested beneath my shirt.
I slowly pulled it out.
A thin crack still ran across its surface.
My fingertips traced it gently.
It was real.
Everything that happened last night…
Had really happened.
Then why…
Why did this morning feel so ordinary?
Knock…
Knock…
“Vena?” My adoptive mother’s warm voice came from outside the room.
“Are you awake, beta?” I quickly slipped the pendant back beneath my shirt.
“Yes, Mom.” “I’ve made breakfast.” “I’ll be there in a minute.” “Don’t take too long.
Your tea will get cold.” Her footsteps gradually faded down the hallway.
I let out a slow breath.
How many mornings had started exactly like this?
Too many to count.
Yet today…
Everything felt different.
Not because the house had changed.
Because I had.
I stood before the mirror.
The reflection staring back at me looked exactly the same.
Same face.
Same dark hair.
Same tired eyes.
But there was something new hidden inside those eyes.
Not confidence.
Not happiness.
Resolve.
In my previous life…
I kept waiting for someone to save me.
This time…
I would make my own choices.
Even if they were small ones.
After washing my face, I opened my bedroom door.
Just as I stepped into the hallway…
A familiar voice reached my ears from downstairs.
“…No.” Nikhil.
He was talking on the phone.
I stopped walking.
His voice was unusually quiet.
“…She’s awake.” A few seconds of silence followed.
He listened carefully before replying.
“I know.” Another pause.
“No.” “I’ll deal with it.” Something about his tone made my heartbeat quicken.
I quietly walked toward the staircase, careful not to let the wooden floor creak.
From where I stood, I could see part of the living room.
Nikhil had his back to me.
One hand rested casually in his pocket.
The other held his phone.
“…Stop sending people.” He spoke calmly.
“She’s staying here.” Silence.
His shoulders tensed ever so slightly.
“I don’t care what the Council decided.” Council…
The word echoed in my mind.
Who were they?
The people behind the Gates?
Or someone even higher?
Nikhil continued, “…You’ll get your answer when the time is right.” Another pause.
Then his voice became colder.
“…Until then…” “…stay away from her.” He ended the call.
For a moment…
He didn’t move.
He simply stood there, staring out of the window.
The morning sunlight fell across his face.
He looked…
Tired.
Not physically.
Mentally.
As though he hadn’t slept all night.
Perhaps…
None of us had.
Maybe he sensed my presence.
Or maybe he always knew I was there.
Without turning around, he said, “How long have you been standing there?” I didn’t panic.
“Just now.” He slowly turned.
Our eyes met.
Neither of us spoke.
The memories from two different lives collided inside my mind.
The brother who betrayed me.
The brother who secretly protected me.
Which one was standing in front of me now?
Nikhil looked at me for a second longer than usual.
“…You’re different today.” I leaned lightly against the staircase railing.
“Maybe I finally stopped seeing the world the way I used to.” His expression remained unreadable.
“…Maybe.” He walked past me toward the dining room.
As he passed, he quietly added, “Be careful.” I frowned.
“Of what?” He stopped for the briefest moment.
Without looking back, he replied, “Sometimes…” “…the truth is more dangerous than the lie.” Then he continued walking.
Leaving me standing alone in the hallway.
The smell of hot parathas and masala chai filled the dining room.
Mom smiled the moment she saw us.
“Finally.” She placed another paratha onto my plate.
“I thought both of you would sleep until afternoon after coming home so late yesterday.” I forced a small smile.
“Sorry, Mom.” “It’s alright.” She poured tea into my cup.
“Eat first.” “You hardly ate anything last night.” Nikhil quietly took his seat.
As always…
He said very little.
Mom looked between the two of us.
“What happened?” “You both are unusually quiet today.” “No reason.” Nikhil answered calmly.
I nodded.
“Just tired.” She sighed dramatically.
“I swear, you two have become exactly alike.” Neither of us argued.
That only made her laugh.
“See?” “Even your silence matches.” For the first time in what felt like forever…
A faint smile escaped my lips.
Not because the joke was extraordinary.
Because…
For a few peaceful seconds…
This felt like a real family.
A family I had almost lost.
The television played softly in the background.
A news reporter stood in front of the remains of an abandoned chapel.
The piece of paratha in my hand stopped halfway to my mouth.
“Authorities have confirmed that last night’s fire at an abandoned chapel on the outskirts of the city was caused by an electrical short circuit.” The screen showed firefighters.
Police tape.
Collapsed stone walls.
Nothing else.
No Gate.
No strange symbols.
No mention of the impossible.
The reporter continued, “Officials have requested the public to avoid the area until structural inspections are complete.” Mom shook her head.
“That old place was abandoned for years.” “It’s sad…
but at least no one was hurt.” I slowly turned toward Nikhil.
He continued eating as though the report meant nothing.
But beneath the table…
His fingers quietly tightened around the glass of water.
Only for a second.
Then…
He relaxed again.
He already knew.
The truth hadn’t disappeared.
Someone…
Had simply erased it from the world.
Breakfast ended in the same peaceful silence it had begun with.
Mom stood up first, collecting the empty cups.
“You two finish eating.
I’ll clean the kitchen.” “I’ll help,” I said automatically.
She smiled and gently shook her head.
“No.” “You’ve barely had any proper rest.” “Go and get ready.
Tomorrow you’ll have college again.” “…Okay.” She disappeared into the kitchen, humming an old Bollywood song she always sang while doing household work.
For a moment…
Everything felt painfully ordinary.
If someone looked through the window right now…
They would see nothing unusual.
A normal family.
A normal Sunday morning.
No one would ever imagine that less than twelve hours ago…
I had stood before a Gate that shouldn’t exist.
I carried my empty plate to the sink anyway.
Mom looked over her shoulder.
“I told you to leave it.” “I know.” “But I want to help.” She smiled without saying another word.
That smile…
It made my chest tighten.
In my previous life…
I had taken moments like these for granted.
I always thought…
“There’ll be another tomorrow.” But tomorrow…
Is never promised.
As I wiped my hands with a towel, Nikhil picked up the car keys from the table.
“I’m going out.” Mom called from the kitchen.
“Again?” “You came home late yesterday.” “I have work.” “It’s Sunday.” “So?” She sighed dramatically.
“Work, work, work.” “One day you’ll forget where this house is.” A faint smile appeared on Nikhil’s face.
“I doubt that.” He walked toward the entrance.
Just before opening the door…
He stopped.
Without turning around, he said, “Vena.” “…Hmm?” “If anyone asks where you were last night…” My heartbeat skipped.
“…Say you were home.” Silence.
He slowly looked over his shoulder.
His eyes were calm.
But there was an unmistakable warning hidden within them.
“…Don’t try to be clever.” Then he left.
The front door closed quietly behind him.
I stood there for several seconds.
Home?
He wanted me to lie.
No…
He wanted me to survive.
There was a difference.
Mom peeked out from the kitchen.
“What happened?” “Nothing.” “Did Nikhil say something?” I forced a smile.
“He just reminded me to lock the door.” She laughed.
“Typical.” “He’s always acting like he’s responsible for everything.” If only she knew…
He was carrying responsibilities far beyond this family.
After helping Mom finish the dishes, I returned to my room.
The moment I closed the door…
The smile disappeared from my face.
I walked straight toward my study table.
Everything looked exactly as I remembered.
My notebooks.
My novels.
A small cactus sitting near the window.
A faded family photograph.
Nothing seemed out of place.
Yet…
Something felt…
Wrong.
I couldn’t explain it.
It wasn’t the room.
It was…
The feeling.
Almost as if someone had quietly entered while I was asleep…
And left without taking anything.
I pulled open the top drawer of my desk.
Pens.
Sticky notes.
College ID.
Everything was where it should be.
The second drawer.
Old assignment papers.
A few photographs.
Nothing unusual.
The last drawer.
My fingers suddenly stopped.
There…
Tucked beneath a sketchbook…
Lay a small black envelope.
I frowned.
“…What?” I slowly picked it up.
It had no stamp.
No address.
No sender’s name.
Only a single silver symbol pressed into the wax seal.
A circle…
Surrounded by seven thin lines.
The same symbol…
That had appeared on the phone Nikhil answered this morning.
A chill ran down my spine.
How did this get here?
I was certain…
This envelope hadn’t existed before.
For several seconds…
I simply stared at it.
Every instinct told me not to open it.
Yet curiosity slowly won.
I carefully broke the wax seal.
Inside…
There was only one sheet of black paper.
No greeting.
No signature.
Just one sentence written in silver ink.
“Some truths wait for the worthy.
Others awaken the worthy.” Below the sentence…
There was another symbol.
Not the seven-lined circle.
This one looked like a single feather wrapped around a drop of light.
The moment my eyes landed on it— My pendant suddenly grew warm beneath my shirt.
I gasped.
A faint silver glow escaped through the fabric for only a split second…
Then disappeared.
I immediately looked toward the bedroom door.
No one had seen it.
“What are you…?” I whispered to the envelope.
There was no answer.
Only silence.
A strange silence…
That felt almost alive.
I folded the paper and slipped it back inside the envelope.
No matter who had sent it…
One thing was certain.
Someone already knew…
I had survived the Gate.
And somehow…
They had entered this house…
Without anyone noticing.
Outside…
A motorcycle engine echoed faintly before fading into the distance.
Nikhil was gone.
But for some reason…
I couldn’t shake the feeling that his warning wasn’t about the past.
It was about…
What was coming next.
I looked down at the black envelope resting in my hands.
The silver letters seemed strangely alive under the morning sunlight.
“Some truths wait for the worthy.
Others awaken the worthy.” “…Who are you?” No answer.
Only silence.
After a long hesitation, I slid the letter back into the envelope and hid it beneath a stack of old notebooks inside my cupboard.
If Mom found it…
She would worry.
If Nikhil found it…
I wasn’t sure what he would do.
And right now…
I wasn’t ready to trust anyone completely.
Not even myself.
The rest of Sunday passed more quietly than I expected.
Mom busied herself with household chores.
The washing machine hummed in the balcony.
The aroma of spices drifted through the kitchen as she prepared lunch.
The television continued playing old songs in the background.
Everything felt…
Normal.
Yet every few minutes…
My fingers unconsciously reached for the pendant beneath my shirt.
It had become a habit overnight.
Almost as if I needed to reassure myself that none of it had been a dream.
By evening, I sat near the window with one of my college notebooks open.
My eyes were fixed on the page.
But I hadn’t read a single line.
Instead…
My mind replayed the events inside the chapel.
The little girl.
The Guardian.
The chained creature.
And…
The man with the black umbrella.
His voice echoed inside my head.
“Wrong question.” “Ask me that…
when you remember yours.” “…Remember what?” I whispered.
“My name?” “My past?” “Or…
something I haven’t even forgotten yet?” The questions remained unanswered.
“Vena!” Mom’s voice pulled me back.
“Dinner is ready.” “I’m coming.” I closed the notebook.
Not a single page had been studied.
Tomorrow…
College would start again.
The Next Morning The alarm rang sharply at 7:00 a.m.
For a second…
I forgot everything.
I stretched lazily before instinctively reaching for my phone.
Then reality returned.
Monday.
College.
I sat up and switched off the alarm.
Unlike yesterday…
There was no strange warmth from the pendant.
No voices.
No silver light.
Only…
An ordinary morning.
After getting ready, I wore my college uniform and stood before the mirror.
I adjusted the collar absentmindedly.
Something about the uniform felt nostalgic.
I had worn it hundreds of times.
Yet today…
It felt like I was wearing it for the first time.
I picked up my college bag.
Before leaving my room, my eyes instinctively moved toward the cupboard.
The black envelope remained hidden.
Exactly where I had left it.
Good.
Some mysteries…
Could wait.
Downstairs…
Mom was already serving breakfast.
“There you are.” “I packed your lunch.” She handed me my tiffin box with a smile.
“Don’t skip your meal this time.” I smiled awkwardly.
“I won’t.” She raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve said that before.” “…This time I mean it.” She laughed softly.
“We’ll see.” The front door opened.
Nikhil had just returned from his morning run.
A towel rested around his neck.
Small drops of sweat rolled down his forehead.
He looked surprised for only a fraction of a second upon seeing me in uniform.
“College.” It wasn’t a question.
I nodded.
“Hmm.” He picked up a glass of water from the dining table.
“Good.” That was all.
Just one word.
Yet somehow…
It sounded as if he was relieved.
Mom glanced between us.
“I don’t know what happened yesterday…” “…but today both of you are talking like normal siblings.” Nikhil almost choked on his water.
I looked away to hide a smile.
Mom continued cheerfully, “Maybe miracles really do happen.” Neither of us corrected her.
A few minutes later…
I stepped outside the house.
The familiar streets were slowly coming to life.
Children in school uniforms waited for their buses.
Tea stalls were crowded with office workers.
A vegetable vendor loudly announced fresh tomatoes.
An auto-rickshaw sped past, its driver arguing with another motorist over who had the right of way.
The city…
Was exactly the same.
Or at least…
It wanted me to believe that.
I began walking toward the bus stop.
The morning breeze brushed against my face.
For the first time since my rebirth…
I wasn’t walking toward danger.
I was walking toward…
An ordinary college day.
Or so I hoped.
The college gates came into view.
Students streamed inside in small groups.
Some laughed loudly.
Some hurried to submit assignments.
Others complained about the first lecture of the day.
I recognized every face.
Every voice.
Every habit.
Not because I knew them personally.
Because I had spent an entire lifetime quietly watching from a distance.
In my previous life…
I had always entered through these gates alone.
Today…
I crossed them once again.
But this time…
I silently made myself one promise.
I won’t spend this life hiding in the background.
Without realizing it…
I took my first step toward the main academic building.
And toward a future…
That had already begun to change.
The familiar corridor stretched before me.
Students rushed in every direction, some carrying notebooks, others balancing cups of tea from the canteen.
Nothing had changed.
The same notice board filled with faded posters.
The same walls covered in handwritten club announcements.
The same laughter echoing through the building.
Yet…
Everything felt different.
Or perhaps…
I was the one who had changed.
As I climbed the stairs to the second floor, countless memories resurfaced.
This corridor…
During my first life, I had walked through it every single day.
Always alone.
I knew exactly which classroom belonged to which department.
I knew which professor arrived five minutes late.
I even knew which bench the backbenchers fought over every Monday.
But…
No one knew me.
Or maybe…
I had never given them the chance.
“Excuse me!” Someone rushed past me carrying a huge stack of files.
One file slipped from the top and scattered papers across the floor.
“Oh no!” Without thinking, I knelt down.
“Here…” I gathered the papers before the breeze could carry them away.
The girl looked surprised.
“T-Thank you!” She accepted the files with both hands.
I recognized her immediately.
Ananya Mehra.
Commerce Department.
Always cheerful.
Talkative.
The kind of person who could make friends with almost anyone.
In my previous life…
We had studied in the same college for three years.
Yet…
The only conversation we ever had was— “Can you pass me that attendance sheet?” She smiled brightly.
“I’ve seen you before.” “We’re from the same department, right?” I nodded politely.
“Yes.” “I’m Vena.” “I know.” She laughed.
“You always sit near the window.” I blinked.
“…You know me?” “Of course.” “You may not talk much…” “…but people notice you.” Her answer genuinely surprised me.
People…
Noticed me?
Then why had I always believed I was invisible?
Before I could say anything else— “Ananya!” A voice called from the classroom.
“Hurry up!” “I’m coming!” She looked back at me.
“Thanks again.” “See you around, Vena.” She ran toward her classroom.
I watched her disappear into the crowd.
A tiny smile formed on my lips.
Perhaps…
Changing the future didn’t always require grand sacrifices.
Sometimes…
It began with helping someone pick up a few scattered papers.
I reached my classroom a few minutes before the lecture.
Just like before…
Most students had already formed their own groups.
Some were laughing over memes.
Some were copying assignments.
Others were arguing about yesterday’s cricket match.
I quietly walked toward my usual seat near the window.
As expected…
It was empty.
Always the same seat.
Always the same silence.
I placed my bag down and looked outside.
The banyan tree near the playground swayed gently in the breeze.
In my previous life…
This window had been my escape.
Whenever loneliness became too heavy…
I looked outside instead of at the people around me.
A familiar voice suddenly broke my thoughts.
“So…” “The silent queen finally came.” I turned.
A girl with shoulder-length hair folded her arms with a teasing smile.
Riya Kapoor.
The class topper.
Sharp-tongued.
Confident.
She never hesitated to speak her mind.
In my previous life…
I had always assumed she disliked me.
Now…
Looking at her expression…
It felt more like playful teasing than hostility.
I answered calmly, “I was absent for one day.” She raised an eyebrow.
“And?” “I expected at least one dramatic excuse.” I smiled faintly.
“Unfortunately…” “My life isn’t that interesting.” Riya looked genuinely caught off guard.
Then she laughed.
“…You can joke?” I shrugged.
“I think so.” “Huh.” She adjusted her glasses.
“I’ve been in the same class as you for months.” “This is probably the longest conversation we’ve ever had.” “…Probably.” She smiled.
“I like this version better.” Before I could reply— Another loud voice echoed from the corridor.
“Move!” “Emergency!” “Life-and-death situation!” The entire class turned toward the door.
A boy burst inside, completely out of breath, clutching two samosas in one hand and his backpack in the other.
“Success!” He dramatically held the samosas above his head.
“I saved them before the canteen closed!” The classroom burst into laughter.
Even Riya sighed.
“Only Kabir…” “…would call buying breakfast a rescue mission.” Kabir looked offended.
“This…” He raised one samosa proudly.
“…isn’t breakfast.” “It’s motivation.” One of the boys laughed.
“Motivation for what?” Kabir answered without missing a beat.
“To survive Professor Sharma’s lecture.” The class erupted again.
Even I couldn’t stop the corner of my lips from lifting.
Kabir suddenly noticed me.
He pointed dramatically.
“Wait…” “The window girl smiled.” The room instantly became quieter.
Several students looked toward me.
I immediately looked away.
“…Sorry.” Kabir scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“I wasn’t making fun of you.” “I just…” “I’ve never seen you smile before.” There wasn’t any malice in his voice.
Only honest surprise.
I took a small breath.
“It’s okay.” The atmosphere relaxed again.
Kabir grinned.
“Good.” “Otherwise I’d have to apologize before breakfast.” He took a huge bite of his samosa.
Riya shook her head.
“You’ll never change.” Kabir proudly swallowed.
“Exactly.” “Perfection shouldn’t be changed.” The entire classroom laughed once more.
For the first time…
Instead of watching everyone from a distance…
I found myself quietly laughing with them.
It wasn’t a big moment.
No dramatic friendship.
No instant bond.
Just…
A small beginning.
And somehow…
It felt more precious than I could explain.
The laughter inside the classroom slowly faded as everyone settled into their seats.
Kabir finally finished his second samosa with the satisfaction of someone who had just won a championship.
He dusted the crumbs from his hands dramatically.
“Now…” “I am mentally prepared for education.” Riya rolled her eyes.
“No.” “You’re mentally prepared for sleeping during the lecture.” The entire row chuckled.
Kabir pointed at her with complete confidence.
“That’s called energy conservation.” “It’s scientific.” Riya folded her arms.
“Really?” “Who taught you that?” “My stomach.” Even I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.
A soft laugh escaped before I could hide it.
Kabir immediately looked toward me.
“There!” “I knew it.” “You laugh like a normal human.” Several students looked at me.
Instead of feeling uncomfortable…
I simply smiled.
“Don’t get used to it.” Kabir pretended to wipe imaginary tears from his eyes.
“Everyone heard that?” “Today is officially a historical day.” “Our class’s silent queen finally smiled and even made a joke.” A boy from the last bench laughed.
“We should celebrate.” Another student added, “Take attendance before she changes her mind.” The classroom burst into laughter once again.
For the first time…
The attention didn’t feel heavy.
It felt…
Warm.
The classroom door suddenly opened.
Professor Mehta walked inside carrying three thick books.
The room instantly became quiet.
“Good morning.” “Good morning, sir.” He placed the books on the table with a loud thud.
“I hope everyone completed yesterday’s assignment.” Half the class confidently nodded.
The other half immediately looked away.
Kabir slowly lowered himself behind the student sitting in front of him.
Professor Mehta looked over his glasses.
“Kabir.” A muffled voice came from behind the bench.
“…Present, sir.” “Stand up.” Kabir slowly stood.
“Assignment?” Kabir smiled innocently.
“Sir…” “I completed it.” Professor Mehta raised an eyebrow.
“Excellent.” “Submit it.” Kabir’s smile disappeared.
“…Mentally.” The class exploded into laughter.
Even Professor Mehta sighed before shaking his head.
“One day…” “Your confidence will become a research topic.” Kabir proudly nodded.
“I’ll happily contribute to science, sir.” The lecture finally began.
Equations filled the whiteboard.
Students hurriedly copied notes.
The scratching of pens echoed throughout the room.
I quietly wrote everything down.
For the first time in years…
I wasn’t distracted.
I wasn’t thinking about fitting in.
I wasn’t worrying about what others thought of me.
I was simply…
Present.
Halfway through the lecture…
Professor Mehta asked a question.
“Can anyone explain this concept?” The classroom became silent.
No one raised a hand.
In my previous life…
I knew the answer.
But I stayed quiet.
Always.
Today…
Almost without thinking…
My hand slowly lifted.
The professor looked surprised.
“Yes…
Vena?” Several students turned toward me.
Even Riya blinked.
I stood up calmly.
After explaining the concept in a few clear sentences, the professor smiled.
“Exactly.” “That’s the correct explanation.” He nodded approvingly.
“Very good.” A few students quietly clapped their desks.
Kabir leaned toward Riya and whispered just loudly enough for the front rows to hear, “…The silent queen has unlocked new skills.” Riya smirked.
“I told you she was smart.” Kabir looked genuinely impressed.
“I thought she was secretly sleeping with her eyes open all semester.” I shook my head, trying not to laugh.
When the lecture ended, students immediately gathered their belongings.
Some rushed toward the canteen.
Others surrounded the professor with questions.
I packed my notebook quietly.
As I walked into the corridor…
I noticed something unusual.
At the far end of the hallway…
A man wearing a black suit stood near the principal’s office.
He didn’t look like a teacher.
Nor a parent.
His posture was too disciplined.
Too alert.
He spoke briefly to the principal before handing over a sealed file.
Then…
Almost instinctively…
He turned his head.
For just a second…
Our eyes met across the crowded corridor.
His expression didn’t change.
He gave the slightest nod…
As if confirming something.
Then walked away.
“…Who was that?” I whispered.
“Who?” Kabir suddenly appeared beside me holding a bottle of water.
I looked toward the corridor again.
The man was gone.
“…Nothing.” Kabir shrugged.
“If you’re looking for the principal, don’t.” “He’s in a meeting.” “No…” “I thought I saw someone.” Kabir followed my gaze before grinning.
“You’ve been reading too many mystery novels.” “Probably.” I smiled faintly.
But deep inside…
I knew I hadn’t imagined it.
Someone had been watching me.
Again.
And this time…
It wasn’t from the shadows of an abandoned chapel.
It was…
Inside my college.
The lunch bell rang throughout the building.
Almost instantly, the silent corridor transformed into chaos.
Students poured out of classrooms.
Some rushed toward the canteen.
Others occupied every bench beneath the trees.
Within seconds…
The peaceful morning disappeared beneath endless conversations and laughter.
I quietly adjusted my bag.
Just like before…
I planned to eat alone.
Old habits were difficult to change.
I had barely taken two steps— “Hey!” Kabir suddenly appeared beside me carrying his lunch box.
“Window Queen.” I looked at him.
“…Window Queen?” He nodded seriously.
“I tried remembering your name.” “I forgot.” “So…” “…Window Queen.” I stared at him for several seconds.
Then sighed.
“My name is Vena.” “Oh.” He scratched his head.
“Right.” “I knew that.” Riya walked over, arms folded.
“You literally heard her introduce herself this morning.” Kabir looked completely confident.
“I was testing my memory.” “And?” “It failed.” Riya covered her face.
“I can’t believe we study in the same class.” Kabir proudly grinned.
“You’re welcome.” Ananya walked toward us carrying a bright pink lunch bag.
“There you are!” She looked at me.
“I was looking for you.” “For me?” “Yes.” She smiled naturally.
“You helped me this morning.” “I didn’t even thank you properly.” “You already did.” “No.” “A proper thank-you requires food.” Before I could refuse…
She grabbed my wrist.
“Come.” “We always eat near the old banyan tree.” “I…” For a brief moment…
The old Vena wanted to decline.
To say she preferred eating alone.
To avoid becoming a burden.
But…
That was the old Vena.
I took a slow breath.
“…Okay.” Ananya’s smile immediately widened.
“Great!” Kabir raised both hands dramatically.
“Mission successful!” Riya frowned.
“What mission?” He pointed toward me.
“Operation: Save the Window Queen from eating alone.” “I told you…” “My name is Vena.” He smiled innocently.
“I know.” “But Window Queen sounds cooler.” I couldn’t help smiling.
“…You’re impossible.” “I’ve been told.” The four of us sat beneath the enormous banyan tree.
A cool breeze drifted through the campus.
Students laughed nearby.
Some played badminton on the lawn.
Others revised notes despite the lunch break.
It was…
Ordinary.
Wonderfully ordinary.
Ananya opened her lunch box.
“My mom made paneer paratha.” Kabir’s eyes widened.
“I suddenly remembered…” “…I forgot my lunch.” Riya looked inside his bag.
“You didn’t forget.” “You finished it during second lecture.” Kabir coughed awkwardly.
“…Details.” Ananya laughed.
“Here.” She handed him half a paratha.
He accepted it with both hands.
“You are officially my favourite person.” Riya immediately interrupted.
“You said the same thing to the canteen uncle yesterday.” “He gave me extra chutney.” “That’s different.” Everyone laughed.
For the first time…
I wasn’t sitting nearby listening to others.
I was…
Part of the conversation.
“So, Vena.” Ananya smiled.
“What do you usually do after college?” The question caught me off guard.
In my previous life…
I simply came home.
Locked myself inside my room.
Read novels.
And waited for another day to end.
Now…
That answer felt too lonely.
“I usually…” Before I could finish— Kabir suddenly gasped dramatically.
“Oh no.” Everyone looked at him.
“What happened?” “My samosa.” Riya blinked.
“What about it?” “I forgot to buy one for lunch.” There was complete silence.
Then…
Ananya burst into laughter.
I tried to remain serious.
I really did.
But watching Kabir look genuinely heartbroken over a missing samosa…
A laugh escaped my lips.
A real one.
Not small.
Not forced.
For a brief second…
Everything else disappeared.
The Gates.
The bloodlines.
The mystery.
I simply laughed.
The others stared at me.
Kabir pointed triumphantly.
“There!” “I knew she could laugh properly!” Ananya smiled warmly.
“You look completely different when you smile.” Heat rushed to my cheeks.
“I…” I didn’t know how to answer.
Because…
No one had ever said something like that to me before.
At that moment…
A cold breeze swept across the campus.
Not strong.
Just enough to make the leaves rustle.
The pendant beneath my uniform suddenly grew warm.
My smile slowly faded.
I instinctively looked toward the main administrative building.
Standing on the top-floor balcony…
A man in a black suit was watching the students below.
His face couldn’t be seen from this distance.
Yet…
I had the unmistakable feeling…
He wasn’t watching everyone.
He was watching…
Me.
I blinked.
A group of students walked past.
For only a second.
When they moved aside…
The balcony was empty.
The man…
Had disappeared.
I lowered my gaze.
“…It happened again.” Kabir noticed.
“Vena?” “Hm?” “You okay?” I forced a small smile.
“…Yeah.” “I just thought I saw someone.” Kabir looked toward the building before shrugging.
“Our principal?” I shook my head.
“…No.” “…Someone else.” The lunch bell rang again.
Students slowly stood up.
Afternoon classes were about to begin.
None of us realized…
That by the time the next bell rang…
Our class would welcome someone…
Who would quietly change every one of our lives.
The lunch bell echoed across the campus.
Students who had been relaxing beneath the banyan tree slowly picked up their bags and started walking back toward their classrooms.
Kabir stretched dramatically.
“I’ve reached the most difficult part of the day.” Ananya looked at him curiously.
“Which lecture?” Kabir sighed deeply.
“No…” “The journey from this tree to the classroom.” Riya rolled her eyes.
“You deserve an award for laziness.” Kabir proudly placed a hand on his chest.
“Thank you.” “I’ve worked very hard to achieve this level.” Everyone laughed again.
Without realizing it…
I laughed with them.
Not because the joke was extraordinary.
But because…
For the first time…
I wasn’t forcing myself to smile.
It happened naturally.
Maybe…
This was what an ordinary college life was supposed to feel like.
The four of us walked through the corridor together.
Students passed us from both sides.
Someone was discussing exam schedules.
Another group argued about a cricket match.
Some juniors hurried toward the library before it became crowded.
Everything felt so alive.
So different from the silence I had carried inside me for years.
Ananya suddenly nudged me.
“Vena.” “Hmm?” “Will you sit with us tomorrow?” I looked at her in surprise.
“You don’t have to answer now.” “I just thought…” “…it would be nice.” Before my previous self could make an excuse…
I answered honestly.
“…I’d like that.” Ananya’s face brightened immediately.
“Done!” Kabir pointed toward the ceiling dramatically.
“Everyone heard that?” “We officially have a new lunch partner.” Riya smiled faintly.
“Don’t scare her away on the first day.” “I never scare people.” Kabir protested.
“They leave because they can’t handle my greatness.” Riya looked at me.
“See?” “This is what we deal with every day.” I couldn’t help smiling again.
“…I can already tell.” As we reached the classroom…
Most students had already returned.
The afternoon sunlight entered through the windows, filling the room with a soft golden glow.
I quietly sat in my usual seat near the window.
But this time…
It didn’t feel lonely.
Kabir took the seat behind me.
Ananya and Riya sat one row away.
Small conversations continued throughout the room while everyone waited for the professor.
I looked outside.
The branches of the old banyan tree swayed gently in the wind.
For a brief moment…
Everything felt peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Then…
The pendant beneath my uniform suddenly became warm.
Not painfully.
Just enough for me to notice.
I instinctively placed my hand over it.
“…Again?” The warmth disappeared almost immediately.
As if…
It had simply reacted to something nearby.
I slowly looked around the classroom.
Nothing.
Everyone was talking normally.
Kabir was still complaining that lunch break should be longer.
Riya was organizing her notes.
Ananya was trying to stop Kabir from stealing another student’s chips.
Everything looked ordinary.
So why…
Did my heart suddenly begin racing?
Tap…
A single footstep echoed from outside.
Then silence.
Tap…
Another.
The conversations inside the classroom continued.
No one paid attention.
Only I seemed to hear them clearly.
My fingers tightened around my pen.
For some reason…
Those footsteps felt…
Familiar.
The classroom door opened.
Professor Mehta walked inside carrying a blue attendance register.
Everyone immediately stood up.
“Good afternoon, sir.” “Good afternoon.” He smiled and gestured for everyone to sit.
As he placed the register on the desk, he looked unusually cheerful.
“I have a small announcement before today’s lecture.” The room instantly became noisy again.
Kabir whispered, “Please let today’s class be cancelled…” Riya hit him lightly with her notebook.
“In your dreams.” Professor Mehta chuckled.
“No, Kabir.” “The class isn’t cancelled.” Kabir dramatically lowered his head onto the desk.
“My dreams have been shattered.” The classroom erupted with laughter.
Even Professor Mehta smiled before continuing.
“As I was saying…” “Our department has received a transfer student.” The room became quiet.
A transfer student?
In the middle of the semester?
Students immediately began whispering among themselves.
“Why now?” “Which college?” “Is it a boy or a girl?” “I heard another university closed admissions.” Kabir leaned forward.
“Please don’t let him be another topper.” Riya smirked.
“Afraid someone might beat your marks?” Kabir looked offended.
“I was planning to come last.” “I don’t like competition.” Ananya laughed softly.
Professor Mehta looked toward the open classroom door.
“Come in.” Silence.
No one entered.
The professor frowned slightly.
“I said…” “Come in.” The corridor outside remained completely still.
Even the whispers inside the classroom faded away.
For some reason…
The pendant beneath my shirt became warmer.
My breathing slowed.
Then…
Tap…
A single footstep echoed outside the classroom.
The sound…
It was exactly the same.
The same calm rhythm.
The same steady pace.
A sharp pain shot through my head.
Suddenly— A fragmented memory flashed before my eyes.
Rain.
A black umbrella.
A young man standing with his back toward me.
His calm voice echoed through the rain.
“You’re late again.” The memory disappeared before I could see his face.
I grabbed the edge of my desk.
“…Who…” The footsteps stopped.
A shadow appeared beyond the classroom doorway.
Professor Mehta smiled.
“There you are.” Every student turned toward the entrance.
The afternoon sunlight stretched across the floor…
Stopping just at the threshold.
For one brief second…
The person standing outside didn’t step inside.
Instead…
He slowly raised his head.
My heartbeat echoed loudly in my ears.
The pendant suddenly emitted a faint pulse beneath my uniform.
And then…
A voice.
Calm.
Unfamiliar.
Yet somehow…
It made my chest tighten.
“…Excuse me for being late.” I looked up instinctively.
The moment our eyes were about to meet— The classroom lights flickered once.
Everything went dark for less than a second.
When the lights returned…
My pendant had gone completely cold.
And for reasons I couldn’t explain…
It felt as though fate itself had just walked into the classroom.
Who was this transfer student?
Why did his voice awaken memories Vena had never lived?
And why did the pendant—silent since the Gate closed—react the moment he arrived?
To be continued …
I’d love to hear your theories in the comments!Have some idea about my story?
Comment it and let me know.
“Friendship often begins with ordinary moments.
Sometimes, the people who save us don’t arrive as heroes—they simply choose to stay.” Thank you for reading another chapter.
Every small detail has a purpose, even if it doesn’t seem important yet.
I’d love to know your theories—what do you think will happen next?
Don’t forget to add the novel to your library and share your thoughts.
See you in the next chapter.Your gift is the motivation for my creation.
Give me more motivation!